The Opelousas courier., 1887-05-07
Woman's Life in Holland.

A few days ago your correspondent
was explaining to some ladies the priv
leges pertaining to their sisters in Amer
lea, says an Amsterdam letter in th
Milwaukee Sentinel, aud casually men
toned that women in some parts of til
United States enj yed the privilege c
voting. The i~ncredulous look which in
stantly appeared leads to a letter, teliin,
the more favored dau ;hters Of the LAM
Of the free what partin the ecoao ny o
life women in Holland occupy. Tie dis
functions of privileges as to freedom
etc, between married and single womel
are 90 thoroughly established by socia
custom as to be observable in the every
day associations of the sexes. A native
VIII readily discover whether the conp.e
walking on the street in front OF him arc
married or not, and this discovery il
made very easy by the strict adherence
81 the pcpu'ace to an ancient custom in
troduced into the country when unsler
the iron rule Of tAlva thu Body" the
cruel tool Of Philip the Second.
An IN married lady always takes the
right arm Of her escort, While the mar.
Rod one selects the left side of her hus-
band. 30 deeply has this custom en-
tered into the life of Hollanders that at
9 church wtd ling the bride enters the
edifice on the right side of the groom,
the young wife returning on
the left side Of her husband when the
ceremony is performed. No unmarried
lady in this country can dream Of going
to church, concert or any other place Of
pullc asseinblage without the escort of
parents or male members of her family.
She cannot take . walk, pay d visit or
81 shopp,ns unaccompanied by her
mother Or some married lady friend. The
Hollander father is not like his American
competitor troubled in the evening
with tie thought that his daughter Is
fattening tho pockctbook of a poorly
paid dude by an indiscriminase indl.I.
gence in ice cream or oysters. Until the
bet.othal Of the young lady has been
announced. she remains the sole charge
Of her father Or mother, and she mikes ac-
Quaintances always il The presence Of 4
third party. Tie Holland young lady
does not go to the theater with i gentle
man who has been introduced to her 4
week before, neither does she vary her
beau TO suit har dress or complexion.
Unmarried daughters in this country
are chaperoned 70 all places Of amusc-
ment; even dancing parties are inter
spersed with songs rccitations, etc, for
the amusement Of pthe elders 81 tie
family. who dit around tables, socially
slipping their coffee, or other favorite
beverage, while the younger members
glide over The floor to the ftfnl
strains of music. Here the young must
make.the best Of their opportunities, for
when i pleases the parents to seek the
quiet solace of the home, the daughters
also quit the gayety Of the ballroom.
Parents hero certainly have i response
bility ii raising . family Of daughters,
but are no doubt coanforted by the
thought that
THE hand that rocks The cradle,
Is the hand that rules the world.n
The hetrothal, which sometimes con-
for years, IS considered as bind
y tho marriage ceremony and Is sci
lorn broken. The good news il duly
communicated ID al The friends ana /,
.Acquaiatapeea by ! printed letter, signed j
~ the parties Interested and their ]
3asenta; . notification Of tho fact Is made ]
\ = special column III ths city news
sapers ~ become ! benedict ii this
ssteFy cline i enough 70 nike TIE !
foutast heart quake as below tie ase I
I 80 ths permission ~ parents IL essen /
y, md II death have renewed them. ]
be Hvoogden'a 81 guardians have Ia ex- !
NESS their satisfaction. An o~lopenasus
s. nsss eken place II The Netherlands.
|arsa wasks heIsre tie wedding day Tia 6
oupla accompanied bystheir parenss / 4
'naxdisaa pEoceed u the CITY Hat and i
askA TIER Intentions known ~ IL Y
lSofgeg nNin3N4 whs&r s%M8 8